Controls Engineer

Controls & Automation Engineer

The Controls & Automation Engineer designs, programs, maintains, and optimizes control systems that support continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations. This role leads SCADA development, enhances PLC and DCS logic, integrates historian data, improves alarm management, and strengthens instrumentation reliability to support safety, quality, and throughput targets as the facility scales by approximately 50% over the next five years. The position offers a long-term opportunity with several years of project work in an environment focused on reducing solvent waste and improving industrial sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and maintain PLC and DCS-based control systems to support continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations.
• Lead SCADA system development, configuration, and optimization to improve visibility, control, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and refine PLC/DCS logic to enhance process reliability, safety, and throughput as the facility scales production.
• Integrate historian data systems to collect, store, and analyze process data for performance monitoring and improvement.
• Implement and optimize alarm management strategies to support safe, stable, and high-quality operations.
• Support instrumentation reliability by ensuring proper specification, configuration, calibration, and troubleshooting of field devices.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, including line and wiring diagrams, to support installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting activities.
• Read and interpret P&IDs and process flow diagrams to understand system design and identify improvement opportunities.
• Troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems and other control platforms to quickly diagnose and resolve control and instrumentation issues.
• Collect, distill, and analyze process data to drive data-based decision making and continuous process improvement.
• Apply knowledge of distillation, tank farms, and hazardous area classifications to ensure safe and compliant control system design and operation.
• Configure and support industrial communication networks such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profibus for reliable connectivity between control systems and field devices.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to support safety, quality, and throughput targets.
• Contribute to projects that reduce solvent waste and improve environmental performance of the facility.
• Work safely in field environments, including elevated work areas and outdoor conditions, while performing control system and instrumentation tasks.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLC systems in an industrial environment.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and control logic development for continuous process applications.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, including line and wiring diagrams.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs and process flow diagrams for chemical and fuel processing systems.
• Strong skills in data collection, distillation, and analysis to support process improvement and decision making.
• Experience with instrumentation used in process control, including configuration and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with SCADA systems, including development, configuration, and optimization.
• Knowledge of distillation processes, tank farm operations, and hazardous area classifications.
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profibus.
• Strong troubleshooting mindset with a data-driven approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work effectively in systems engineering or controls engineering roles with PLC experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience across multiple PLC platforms, including Allen-Bradley, Foxboro, and Red Lion.
• Experience in systems engineering with practical PLC and controls experience.
• Experience in continuous chemical processing or fuel blending environments.
• Familiarity with alarm management best practices and historian data integration.
• Interest in or experience with projects focused on environmental sustainability and waste reduction.

Work Environment

The role is based in an industrial process facility focused on continuous chemical processing and fuel blending operations, with a long-term pipeline of project work. The environment involves both control room and field work, including exposure to outdoor conditions and process areas. You must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, both hot and cold, and work at heights using equipment such as cherry pickers up to approximately 60 feet. The facility operates with typical industrial technologies including PLC and DCS systems, SCADA platforms, historian databases, and industrial communication networks. Safety procedures and appropriate personal protective equipment are integral parts of daily work, reflecting the presence of distillation systems, tank farms, and hazardous area classifications. The culture emphasizes operational safety, data-driven decision making, and environmental stewardship, including initiatives that significantly reduce solvent waste over time.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Ferndale, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $52.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Ferndale, MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 5, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.